What is the best way to approach a friend who pirates games?

Tell him to try a free to play game like League of Legends.


I have spent more money on that game than every other game combined in the last 5 years.
 
I dont mind people pirating stuff. What I really hate is when they start mocking people who do pay money. Calling them smhucks for not downloading it for free.
 
Marcel said:
Don't get me wrong, he's most likely "that guy" who brags about getting shit for free. But you probably don't want to be "that guy" who acts like it is your sudden moral imperative to stamp out piracy by browbeating your friend.
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lol true. My comment was more about why the guy probably isn't good company in the first place, rather than looking for an excuse to blow up at the guy.
 
Aquamarine said:
I've used scare tactics on some not-so-internet-savvy users and they've worked in the past.

I know they don't actually pursue people anymore...but the OP's friend doesn't have to know that.
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Yeah I'm sure the stories of a magical online boogeyman that finds people for downloading games and Mother 3 ROMs will get him to curtail his ways for sure. You guys are hilarious.
 
I had a friend who was like this as well, he would say things like. Who cares they are multi million companies. Would say it's stupid that Ms and Sony lock my console without allowing me to do what ever I want. Then he would say not everyone who wants to unlock the console are pirates. Then I told him but you did unlock your xbox just to pirate... We are no longer friends. Not because of the pirating either, he was just an ass hat I had not rather associate with.
 
Skiesofwonder said:
A good friend of mine just started illegally downloading torrented games on his PC. It's really not any of my business so I just changed the subject when it came up, but lately he has started to brag about it. And to make things even worse, he has moved past AAA titles and into indie game territory. Today he mentioned how awesome a high profile indie title was and that he torrented it. At that point I realized that I had to say something because it would be morally wrong not to. This is a eight person team that I'm sure they could use as much money as possible.

But I don't know how to approach it. I think if I brought it to his attention in how this was wrong and I disapproved, he might consider stopping. But I don't know how to approach the subject without sounding like an ass and damaging our friendship. Have any of you dealt with this before?


Edit: to my knowledge he only started doing this a week ago.
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Only a few weeks ago I had a conversation about piracy with a friend. It lasted a solid two minutes. We were talking about our internet speeds. He told me he needed a fast internet connection for torrents ect. I mentioned I don't download many games and casually added I do not pirate games. I just said if I am going to use and enjoy a piece of software I should pay for it. He didn't show any disgust or hostility for my opinion. It was a very boring and mundane conversation.
 
Chopper Dave said:
Only a few weeks ago I had a conversation about piracy with a friend. It lasted a solid two minutes. We were talking about our internet speeds. He told me he needed a fast internet connection for torrents ect. I mentioned I don't download many games and casually added I do not pirate games. I just said if I am going to use and enjoy a piece of software I should pay for it. He didn't show any disgust or hostility for my opinion. It was a very boring and mundane conversation.
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It's my experience that people who aren't on the inside of a game enthusiast community don't really give a fuck about how you get or play your games. People can press the issue of piracy but most likely it will either end with a big nothing like you said, or the person who injects a sudden and explosive moral imperative into a conversation looking like a weirdo.
 
I have a friend who used to pirate games all his life. Around 4 years ago he started to get more and more into Steam and buying games there rather than pirate them. Now he owns almost 400 games on his Steam account and I haven't seen him pirate a game since.
 
You can explain to him that a lot of work goes into games so pirating them really is wrong and damaging to the industry. Other than that do nothing, say nothing. People who heavily pirate games do not care about much more than playing the games. No point trying to turn this into a thing.
 
Ridicule. If someone talks about pirating games I tell them to knock it off, stop being a little shit, and grow up.
 
Tell him he has really good ideas and encourage him to pursue game development. Wait a few years for him to apply, get accepted to, and obtain a degree in game creation at Full Sail University in Florida. When he finishes, cheer him on through all the tough times when he gets frustrated that a line of code isn't working or the game isn't going the way he had envisioned it. After all the blood, tears and sweat he accumulates over the following years, his first game will finally be complete and he couldn't have a greater sense of accomplishment. He'll release it to much fanfare and he'll be the happiest he's ever been in his life.

Then pirate his game.
 
cosmicblizzard said:
Tell him he has really good ideas and encourage him to pursue game development. Wait a few years for him to apply, get accepted to, and obtain a degree in game creation at Full Sail University in Florida. When he finishes, cheer him on through all the tough times when he gets frustrated that a line of code isn't working or the game isn't going the way he had envisioned it. After all the blood, tears and sweat he accumulates over the following years, his first game will finally be complete and he couldn't have a greater sense of accomplishment. He'll release it to much fanfare and he'll be the happiest he's ever been in his life.

Then pirate his game.
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I'm not sure this is the place for your personal fantasy revenge blog entry.
 
Break into his place and steal his comp, then replace it with a Mac and a console. Boom. Done.

Or, just let nature take it's course. Soon the thrill of sticking it to everyone and getting it all for free will wear off. Eventually Steam or Gog will entice with something not easily pirated and cheap and then paying for it will seem ok.

Of course if that never happens and he pirates for the rest of his life, well then he's just that kind of guy and saying something wouldn't have changed that.
 
Just tell him that if you like something, you should support it to help ensure it's continued existence. Arguing morals and the legality is usually pointless, because a person often does not care about legality or right/wrong when they're getting dozens of games for free (not counting situations where people pirate because they can't get the game legitimately or get screwed by DRM). Pirating when viable alternatives are present is selfish, and the best way to appeal to a selfish person is by showing them how it benefits them to pay.
 
cosmicblizzard said:
Tell him he has really good ideas and encourage him to pursue game development. Wait a few years for him to apply, get accepted to, and obtain a degree in game creation at Full Sail University in Florida. When he finishes, cheer him on through all the tough times when he gets frustrated that a line of code isn't working or the game isn't going the way he had envisioned it. After all the blood, tears and sweat he accumulates over the following years, his first game will finally be complete and he couldn't have a greater sense of accomplishment. He'll release it to much fanfare and he'll be the happiest he's ever been in his life.

Then pirate his game.
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Best advice so far.
 
MacH1nation said:
Break into his place and steal his comp, then replace it with a Mac and a console. Boom. Done.
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Almost as good as another poster's earlier suggestion that you act physical with someone who pirates video games. Keep those amazing ideas coming. They're not weird and borderline sociopathic reprisal tactics at all.
 
Out of interest, does anyone in this thread see a difference between game piracy and movie/tv/audio piracy?

For me "I pay for my content", end of story.
 
You can explain to him why that's wrong but he is not going to stop downloading them and there's nothing you can do.

It's wrong but it's his choice.
 
I guess if decided to bring it up with him, I'd take the "if you like it, you should pay for it" angle. Emphasize that without money the people who made something he liked can't make more things he might like. Or, if it's mostly low-cost games, let him know when you see one of the games on sale for a pittance and suggest he buy it since he liked it.

Neither of these things is likely to work, but it's the most you can reasonably do.
 
Krejlooc said:
Given the ridiculous premise of this topic, I'd say it's the best place for it.
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I like to think that some of the more laughable stuff is simply people being silly but I never know with some of the stuff that GAF folks occasionally hardline on.
 
Admiral Woofington said:
This is your brain.
37Li4fL.jpg


And this is your brain when you pirate games.
VDMlrvf.gif
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so it's better when you pirate games?

anyway op, don't you know that pirates don't damage the industry?
 
There's no way to do it without damaging a friendship, but in all honesty, your friend would probably be better off without judgmental friends.

What's it to you how he pays for games or not?
 
It's his business, don't concern yourself over it... where I'm from, piracy is perfectly normal. Just about any of my friends consider the idea of paying for a video game ludicrous (unless we're talking about Football Manager series, those games never get cracked but they need their FM fix, so they buy it... grudgingly). Here on GAF, we consider gaming a hobby... outside of Internet, many people consider it throwaway entertainment.

Never heard any of my friends bragging about piracy, though. To them, it's fully natural, they don't know or care they're doing something "wrong", so it never gets brought up. And if I can be honest, back in my younger days when I had no income of my own, I did my fair share as well, good luck convincing your parents to pay a bunch of money for a video game. Convincing them to get me a PC was hard enough!
 
well just tell him that if you like that game so much, why not contribute and give money to people who made it possible and some day you will even see a sequel. You don't have to be a dick about it when you tell him, if he doesn't understand and see nothing wrong with what he is doing. Well there is not much you can do about that. Some people really are a fucking moron.
 
You don't. It's his choice and his income

You just show him the advantages of not pirating games. Multiplayer, achievements and mostly, convenience. Its easier you download and play than waiting for an scene fix.

Some games never get pirated. FIFA 14 has an useless ultimate team and FIFA 15 is still going untouched
 
shuri said:
Tell him that if he does not stop, you will simply report him to your local authorities or to the makers of the games. Friend or not, this has to stop. His torrenting is hurting devs, and the smaller devs actually NEED to those sales.

Sometimes you need to go hard.

edit: Another way would be to simply get him a steam account, and whenever he express interest in pirating a title; just buy it and gift it to his account. Make him aware of that. It might be expensive for a while, but in the long run, your example will impress him and he is going to start buying his own games. Send him txt messages about steam deals every few days, remind him that pc gaming is not expensive and that deals are always to be had.
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Have you ever thought about his friend's feeling? How depressed he would become if the cops were called on him?

I bet you didn't.

You monster.
 
Just cleverly replace a games '.exe' or shortcut-target file with a prank virus '.bat' file.

Just search fake virus, you'll find already prepared pranks and notepad tutorials.


"works every time"
 
Tregard said:
If he's bragging about it the guy has a right to say something back.
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No he does not...

Maybe it is annoying that he is bragging about it, which he shouldn't because it can get him into trouble, but that is still not enough of a reason for him to tell him something. Perhaps explain that he needs to keep his mouth shut but other than that he has no right to explain anything to him.
 
are you that emotionally affected by it? seriously?


it's his business, let him do whatever he wants.

or do you also tell your friend who watches tv shows in some free streaming site to stop doing it and go subscribe to netflix?
 
tell your friend Steam sales exist

and if that doesn't work, tell him not to talk to you about pirating games.
 
Eh, to each their own. Moralizing isn't going to get you anywhere. And it is not your job to supply him with games.

Unless he starts taunting you about pirating all those games that you cannot afford. Then you need to call in the ninjas.
 
All these "none of your business" posts make it sound like the dude is cheating on his wife or selling hard drugs. You guys realize it's his good friend right? There's nothing wrong with just saying "Hey bro, the bragging about pirating thing is kind of off putting to me...." and then explaining your thoughts.

I seriously don't see how that should damage your guys' relationship, friends should be able to just fucking talk to each other openly. It's your friend and you know him OP, your call. But it really can't hurt just to bring it up, or at least tell him to stop bragging about it.
 
EmptySpace said:
are you that emotionally affected by it? seriously?


it's his business, let him do whatever he wants.

or do you also tell your friend who watches tv shows in some free streaming site to stop doing it and go subscribe to netflix?
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Better yet, tell everyone on GAF's past selves that pirating music is bad and you should all feel really guilty about it. You also owe money for all those songs you may listen to on Youtube, you know.
 
justsomeguy said:
Out of interest, does anyone in this thread see a difference between game piracy and movie/tv/audio piracy?
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Not really, no.

That said, I think there is potentially a good discussion about compensating artists without needing to resort to the classic brick-and-morter system of commerce where, but I don't think such a discussion would go well.

I look at the way Megaupload worked, and aside from the naggling bit about people not needing to actually own the content they were profiting on, I see that as the future of media distribution and compensation. That model worked beaufitully - those who provided content were handsomely compensated, those who produced content (in theory) were compensated (in reality, the line between "uploader" and "producer" were blurred), and meanwhile people could get their media for free (or, if they wished to improve their experience, they could actually pay money for stuff like "unlimited simultaneous downloads"). It also cut out the ridiculous middlemen from the equation.

Megabox, their music service that was set to launch before they got the plug pulled on them, sounded a lot like the future of the music industry. Lots of rappers were talking about leaving their labels to put their music on Megabox because of how it all worked, and how much more money they could make without their audience really paying a dime.

Stuff like that really blurs the line between commerce and piracy.
 
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